City of Martindale asked for your opinion

The City Council held a workshop from 4-6pm yesterday in City Hall, concluding a two-week period of comments and discussion about the possibility of accepting a donated mini-pitch soccer field.

The Hopson Estates neighborhood declined the location for the mini-pitch, but suggested it could be located in Alan Bates Park. Unfortunately, we were given a short window of time to accept the offer, and will not have time to pursue that option. We will decline the donation.

Comments — Questions — Thoughts — Concerns?

Nothing has been decided yet. We are trying to get facts about the project out to people in Martindale — to see if people support it or not. If there are concerns, now is the time to look into it and let the council know so we can figure out if there is a win-win solution.

So if you have suggestions or questions, be sure to call/email City Hall, a council member or come in person to the Q & A workshop discussion at 4-6pm on THIS SATURDAY, June 1 at the city council meeting room 407 Main Street downtown Martindale. Please come in person to have a conversation whether you support it or oppose it. Sometimes people who feel strongly negatively are the only ones who make it a priority to come in person. If you support it, come too. We promise to provide a calm, open-minded council who will welcome everyone’s opinion equally.

Democracy

Also, as a community, one that works together to improve life for each other, every resident gets exactly one, equally-weighted vote in favor or against any issue. Your vote counts the exact same if you insult me and say “this is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard from you– you don’t know what you are doing” or if you come, listen, think about what you hear, then say “nah, I don’t think I want this. But thanks for bringing the opportunity to us just the same” OR if you barely whisper, “my neighbors don’t like it, but I think my kids might really have fun here” OR if you pound the table and yell, “I am so sick of you idiots! This is the best thing anyone ever thought of! What’s wrong with all of you?” One vote per person. That’s all anyone gets. The difference is whether we get to live relatively happy by discussing things and letting everyone have equal respect and attention, or whether everyone lives in irritation and approaches each other like the dumbest person who ever lived. No one feels good living in their own discontent. It’s like one of my Sages always says, “If you can’t have a good day, don’t you dare go messing up anybody else’s.”

Soccer

If the neighborhood of Hopson Ranch doesn’t support it, we will simply pass on it. But everyone in Martindale is welcome to weigh in, because it will be a Martindale city park, just like the others (e.g., Alan Bates or Phase I). No one needs to feel disrespected for their opinion on either side of the decision. It is just a decision. There will be many more. So just like in the game of soccer, it’s not just about whether you win or lose…IT IS HOW YOU PLAY THE GAME. So let’s play this one like our kids are watching. Because they are. There are many really vital lessons to teach your children before they are grown, let a respectful tone and a willingness to approach our common lives together with some comradery and care for each other be an important one.

Community

Afterall, if I ask any person in any neighborhood about the best parts of Martindale, every single person so far has told me about their neighbors and the caretaking they give and receive after a storm, around the holidays, when a family has someone pass away, when a family is packing to move away…y’all can’t stop saying how much the people in the community mean to you, right? Am I right? I have stood on your doorsteps as you said it. So maybe let’s try remembering that when the whole town is only 1200 people, we are ALL neighbors. We are all one community. We need each other, and need to widen our own self-interests beyond the neighbor next door to embrace the neighbor a mile down the road, too.

Silos

We can’t all know everything about every neighborhood when we have been living in silos. So let’s try seeing each other with grace. Assume first that someone doesn’t know, not that they are idiots. Assume they haven’t lived in your neighborhood before so they cannot know. Explain your thoughts, positive and negative. And be willing to listen to their experiences too. If we can teach ourselves to think of Martindale (population 1200) simply as a bigger neighborhood, maybe we can figure out how to work together to make this a better place for all of us. Sometimes a win-win feels better than a victory toilet swirl. (Yeah, I said it.)

Don’t make me regret this two weeks into it… LOL… JKJKJKJK

Hope to see everyone, in favor, against, and undecided on Saturday from 4-6pm, or hoping to count your survey response at City Hall, or hear the conversation you had with the mayor, or the conversation you’ll have with me or another council person, or maybe you’ll drop off your yes-or-no vote at Terri Werner’s collection envelope! However you choose to vote, use your right to have an opinion. And thank others for expressing theirs– even if it doesn’t match yours. I love this town. Come on now, bring it on in for a group hug.